Distillate petroleum products and method of treating same



Patented May 23, 1933 Tm IB. RATHER AND LESLIE BEARD, JR, OF BROOKLYN, AND ORLAND 1E. BEIFF,

OI JACKSON HEIGHTS,

NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO SOCONY-VACUUM CORPORATION,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK DISTILLATE PETROLEUM PRODUCTS AND METHOD OF TREATING SAME No Drawing. Application .flled November "26, 1926, Serial No. 151,005. Renewed December 20, 1930.

This invention relates to distillate petroleum products and to method of treating same to prevent spontaneous discoloration and formation of odor therein.

It is well recognized that the distributors and consumers of kerosene and gasoline insist that these products be clear and free from discoloration and odor as an entirely distinct and separate matter from the actual capabilities and usefulness of theproducts for the ordinary uses for which'they are intended. It is also well recognized that kerosene and gasoline spontaneously become unclear, discolored and odorous gradually upon continued exposure to air, thus after a while becoming objectionable to the trade.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a distillate petroleum product, notably kerosene and gasoline, which will remain clear and free from discoloration and odor without impairment or lowering of its effectiveness and capabilities for use; and to provide a simple and inexpensive method of producing distillate petroleum products having the characteristics and qualities referred to.

Other objects of this invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter. 1

In accordance with this invention, the improved product consists of a petroleum distillate, notably kerosene and gasoline, containing a negative oxidation catalyst. The catalyst may be added in the still during distillation, or placed in the condenser in which the distillate is condensed, or the catalyst may be added to the distillate after removal from the condenser, it being advisable, however, to add the catalyst before any appreciable quantity of atmospheric oxygen has been taken up by the distillate, because such oxygen is apt to cause the formation 1n the distillate of substances which are apt to promote the addition of further oxygen and may tend to ofiset any advantage to be gained by the subsequent addition of the negative oxidation catalyst. These objectionable substances, while frequently colorless and odorless, are apt to undergo change resulting in the development of objectionable color and odor.

The negative oxidation catalyst or catalysts should be of such nature that when added to kerosene or gasoline in sufiicient quantities for the purpose they do not effect the color and odor, or materially increase the cost of production, since such effects would raise commercial objections to the product.

The following substances and classes of substances constituting negative oxidation catalysts are mentioned as suitable for the treatment above described Aromatic amines; naphthylamine, para phenylenediamine and phenylhydrazine.

Substituted phenols and poly phenols; for instance, cresol and hydroquinone.

Ureas and urea derivatives; for instance, urea and thiourea.

Alkaloids; for instance, brucine and nicotine.

The agents above named which occur in solid form are preferably dissolved in an aliphatic alcohol, for instance, butyl alcohol, or in an aromatic alcohol, for instance, benzyl alcohol, before being applied to the oil. Although all of the above agents and classes of agents can be used in gasoline and kerosene as negative oxidation catalysts, in the practice of this invention we prefer to use a saturated solution of hydroquinone,

brucine or nicotine in secondary or tertiary butyl alcohol, the secondary or tertiary butyl alcohol serving to facilitate the solution of the hydroquinone, brucine or nicotine in the oil.. The amount of-saturated solution of hydroquinone, brucine or nicotine in secondary or tertiary butyl alcohol, properly to be applied to the oil, may vary from 1 part in 5 thousand to V1 part depending upon the amount of stabilization its susceptibility to oxidation, and the storage temperature.

We have also produced our invention successfully in a commercial way by dissolving five pounds of hydroquinone in five gallons of isopropyl or secondary butyl alcohol, and

for instance, alpha in 50 thousand,

adding this solution withappropriateagitation to the petroleum product to be treated,

in the proportion of one part ofthe above solution tofrom 10,000 to 20,000 parts. of

the petroleum product, according to the amountof stabilization desired. Oil treated 1 at125 F. has disclosed a discoloration'test o line, and the amount may be as small as 1 with one'part of hydroquinone to 75,000 parts of oil standing for twenty-six weeks of 9v points, Saybolt chronometer, as against a deterioration of 24 points of the same oil undercxactly the same conditions.

Any of the above mentioned substances are suitable either alone or in combination with others. It is' never requiredto add more than 0.02% to the kerosene or gasopart negative catalyzer to 500 thousand parts oil. Not'over 1 part of brucine or nicotine 20.

in 50,000 parts of gasoline or kerosene should be added, as an over-abundance of the agent will tend to cause discoloration of the product.

1 It will be apparent from the above that this invention is directed primarily to preventing discoloration and formation of odor I in the lighter petroleum distillate's, notably .those' of A.P.I. gravity higherthan 37 dc-' grces, and particularly kerosene andgasoline. Consumers and distributors of these products require that they be clear and free from discoloration and objectionable odorr without considering the question of service- 'ability' for the use intended.

Kerosene and gasoline, however, must be maintained comparatively inexpensive in order to satisfactorily co c with commercial competition, and there ore any treatment must be such thatthe cost of production is not increased a prohibitive amount. Applicants method satisfactorily meets this delicate situation since the amounts of negative catalyst the treatment requires are so small that increase in the cost of manufacture and price to the consumer is negligible.

At the same time the treated kerosene and mation of odor in the distillate. r

ments in distillate petroleum products and method of treating same, includes disclosure of the subject matter of-this application and claims certain of the subject matteras to which claims have not been maintained herein.

What we claim is,:

'1. The method of preventing discoloration of light colored petroleum distillates in the gasoline-kerosene boiling range which comprlses adding thereto'a minute amount of an alkaloid. v

2. The method of treating a light colored petroleum distillate i'n'the gasoline-kerosene boiling range to prevent objectionable discoloration thereof which comprises incorporating into said distillate a minute quantity of an. alkaloid of the class described.

3. A light. colored substantially color stable petroleum distillate in the asolinekerosene boiling range having adde thereto as a color stabilizer a minute quantity of an alkaloid.

' 4. The method of the. character described, which includes adding a minutequantity of a saturatedsolution of brucine in one of the butyl alcohols to a petroleum distillate to prevent spontaneous discoloration and for- 5. A petroleum product consisting of a petroleum distillate containing minute amounts of one of the butyl alcohols and brucine. I

This specification signed this 23 day of November, 1926.

JAMES B. RATHER. LESLIE C. BEARD, J R.

()RLAND M. REIFF.

gasoline is capable of being stored and colored or odorous. V

The expression negative oxidation catalyst has been used above in its ordinary sense, that is, to mean a substance, usually a compound containing carbon, which retards the attainment of equilibrium in a chemical system in which oxidation is the handled without danger of its becoming disfundamental reaction. 

